One of the most important forms of classical music is without a doubt the sonata. The meaning of the term “sonata”, which is derived from the Italian word “sonare” which means “to sound” or “to play”, has changed considerably over time. Browse our sheet music and scores, grab your all your favourites, and find out more about the sonata here today!
The term “sonata” derives from the second half of the 16th century, and refers to different types of instrumental compositions for two or more instruments. The term came about to distinguish the sonata from solo pieces for keyboard instruments, and from pieces with singing, such as cantatas.
The main difference between the baroque sonata and the classical sonata is the number of movements, the baroque sonata has at least four or more, in which slow and fast tempos alternate regularly. The baroque sonata is divided into two basic types:
Sonata da camera (“Chamber Sonata”) – which has a light dance character and is the predecessor of the baroque dance suite.
Sonata da chiesa (“Church sonata”) – which is usually in four movements and has a more serious character.
Depending on the size of the line-up, Baroque sonatas can be further subdivided into Solo Sonata for one instrument (usually violin) and basso continuo, and Trio Sonata for two solo instruments and basso continuo.
One of the most well-known composers of the Baroque sonata is the Italian composer Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713). Both the Church Sonatas by Corelli and the Chamber Sonatas by Corelli are still very popular with instrumentalists and listeners today.
At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the sonata da chiesa gradually evolved into what is known as the Neapolitan overture, where the introductory slow movement has been removed. The result was a three-movement form, with the tempo structure fast-slow-fast within each movement, which became the model not only for the classical sonata, but also for many other musical forms.
The Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) contributed a great deal to the development of the sonata. The Sonatas by Scarlatti were usually composed in the traditional sonata form, a one-movement work with two contrasting themes.
During the Classical period, the sonata continued to develop and evolve. At that time, the term “sonata” was mainly understood to mean Piano Sonatas, or sonatas for another solo instrument with piano accompaniment. In its basic form, a classical sonata consists of three, or occasionally four movements, where the first fast movement is written in ’sonata form’, the second movement is slower, and the third movement is usually fast again, and can take various forms.
In a four-movement sonata, a dance movement in the form of a minuet or a scherzo is usually inserted before the last movement. The greatest exponents of the sonata were arguably three composers of the first Viennese school, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart " 1972" text="Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven’s most famous sonata is without a doubt the Moonlight Sonata.
op. Post. 122 D 568
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1017703
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1016954
für Hackbrett und Tenorhackbrett(oder Bass)
for: 2 dulcimer
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1016982
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1016501
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1016489
"Kreutzer Sonata"
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1016506
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1016505
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1012912
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1015149
for: Baroque orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1015324
Dolce suono
for: Bassoon [cello], basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1013888
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1013042
for: Recorder, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1012853
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1012121
for: 1–3 violins, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009372
for one to for instrumental parts (violino, viola da braccio, viola da gamba, trombone, bassono) und Basso
for: 1-4 melodic instruments, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009377
für eine bis vier Instrumentalstimmen (Violino, Viola da braccio, Viola da gamba, Trombone, Fagotto) und Basso
for: 1-4 melodic instruments, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009375
für eine bis vier Instrumentalstimmen (Violino, Viola da braccio, Viola da gamba, Trombone, Fagotto) und Basso
for: 1-4 melodic instruments, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009376
for: 2 violins, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009374
for one to for instrumental parts (violino, viola da braccio, viola da gamba, trombone, bassono) und Basso
for: 1-4 melodic instruments, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009370
for: Violin, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009373
for: Violin, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 1009371
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1009261
Collection Renaud Capuçon
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 817436
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 817348
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 817229
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 817111
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 817114
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 817112
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 778596
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 816856
Drei Sonaten für Violoncello und Basso 1
for: Cello, double bass
Score, Parts
Item no.: 816841
Drei Sonaten für Violoncello und Basso 2
for: Cello, double bass
Score, Parts
Item no.: 816840
Drei Sonaten für Violoncello und Basso 3
Erstausgabe
for: Cello, double bass
Score, Parts
Item no.: 816839
Transcription
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 797533
Print on demand
for: Bassoon
Music score
Item no.: 797056
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 797099
for: Cello, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 797024
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 796877
Urtextausgabe
for: Cello, piano
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796779
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 796756
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796433
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796413
replaces HN 1310
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796427
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796410
replaces HN 641
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796411
replaces HN 1312
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 796426
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